News

Supporters of Labour's proposed water tax may be changing their minds when they hear the money raised won't all be spent on cleaning up rivers.

Labour introduced the water tax proposal with the stated aim to 'restore our rivers and lakes to a truly swimmable state within a generation'. They even called it a 'Clean Rivers' announcement.

They also said the money would be spent cleaning up rivers in the regions where the money would be raised, from irrigators and water bottlers.

But speaking on RadioLive at the weekend, Labour's spokesperson on Primary Industries Damien O’Connor backtracked. O'Connor said some of the money would be used to introduce a government subsidy on drinking water improvements. He also said some of the money would be transferred between regions.